Conversation Heart Soaps - Yes You Can DIY!

Source: marthastewart.com via Cindee on Pinterest

Conversation heart soaps? Perfect for wedding favors! Directions and photo from Martha Stewart.  Just so you have an idea what is involved so you know what you'd need to buy to make these the tools and materials are listed below from Martha's site.  Head to Martha's site to get specific directions.

This is NOT a craft I've tried because I don't  have the supplies needed.  Presume Martha has frequent use for metal letter stamps but I can't imagine when else I'd use them. But if you're a DIYer who would use these again (or you feel like investing in the metal letter stamps) the directions don't seem too bad.
Tools and Materials (quoted from Martha Stewart)

Nonstick 9-inch square pan
Heart-shape cookie cutter
Glass measuring cup
Glycerin soap
Bench scraper
Soap colorant or food coloring
Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
Cutting board
Needle nose pliers
1/8-inch metal letter stamps
Masking tape

Parmesan Panko Zucchini--A Delight To Your Tastebuds!

Source: bakehouse.squarespace.com via Jill's on Pinterest

Parmesan Panko Zucchini, oh what a great food! Perfect for a parties or weddings. And if you are like many brides, the party doesn't end with your reception. Often there are events the day after the wedding, even if you have already left on your honeymoon. The best thing (in my humble opinion (hey! Stop SNORTING, what do you mean I never had an opinion that I thought was was humble!) OK, so you're right...anyway as I was saying... the day after your wedding is not a time your parents or whoever is hosting the day after party wants to have to make complicated food, the easier the better.

This is the perfect time for EEEBCDI (Easy Enough Even Bill Can Do It) food. To be totally fair my husband, Bill, is a good cook on the grill, but inside the house? He's always trying to use one less pan, or skip a step, so the results are sometimes...unusual unless it's a simple recipe with very few ingredients!

(For those just starting to read this blog, my husband frequently tests out my DIY projects to see if they really are EASY DIY projects. I'm not crafty but he... well he can paint, he can wire the house but oh please DO NOT give the man anything from the craft store!)

Anyway, back on track... these are from a recipe for Baked (yes that's baked NOT fried) Zucchini with Panko Crumbs and some shredded Parmesan Cheese.  For the exact recipe see the post about it on Blackjack Bake House.  While it still isn't low cal, it certainly is LOWER cal than frying the squash!

You may never eat squash any other way again! And if you happen to have put in a garden this year, add a few extra zucchini plants and you'll save more money! (Because we all know those things always produce way more than we need anyway!)

Enjoy taste testing these beauties, soon you'll be as addicted to this simple squash recipe as everyone else is!

Your Place Card Is A WHAT?

Source: hatchcreativestudio.com via Shopbop on Pinterest

I'm always on the look out for a creative place card. I think this would be a great place card for a rustic wedding, especially one in a refurbished barn or at a picnic with a roast pig.  The animals can differ from table to table or choose your favorite animal and then spray paint them.  Hang a little tag around their neck and voila!

DIY Shower Decorations

Source: bhg.com via Kim on Pinterest

This spring door decoration is perfect for the front door of the hostess of a wedding shower.  Use real or silk flowers, add them to an umbrells in a pretty colors and tie it with a ribbon the same color as the flowers.  Add a bird's nest (from the craft store!) and some blown out eggs or just fill it with flowers on both sides. BHG suggests if you're using real flowers "create a simple vase with water in a plastic resealable bag. Secure at the base of the flower stem with a rubber band." Simple and effective way to keep your flowers alive! Then just hang on your front door. 

Use a photo of your front door for the shower invitation.  This will help your guests recognize your house and get you started on planning your decorations ahead of time!

Hand Kites For Flower Girls

Products from Apple n Amos store on Etsy.com

Looking for something unique for your flower girl to carry instead of trailing flower petals or carrying a flower wand? How about this hand kite form Apple n Amos on Etsy.com? While the hand kite shown above is multi-colored rainbow hues, Apple n Amos make these fun 'toys' in a variety of colors.

Photo from Apple n Amos Store on Etsy.com

This 'toy' would make for some great photos, and your flower girl will have fun waving it as she goes up and down the aisle! Why not choose something a little different for your flower girl? She can take it home after the wedding and play 'wedding' or just 'fly' her hand kite running around outside.

Who Sits Where?

Source: rusticweddingchic.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Don't want to have your guests divided by 'bride's side' and 'groom's side?' This easy chalk board is a simple DIY  project that politely directs guests to become one group all wishing both of you well as you start out your marriage. Love the sentiment and the simple way they bride and groom carried it out.
Photo from Pinterest; source of photo: Rustic Wedding Chic.

Unique Table Numbers

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

Are you and your groom comic book fans or collectors? Get some plastic photo cubes and add your favorite superheros! Either choose a single hero per table and add a number on the top cube in the stack or mix and match heroes and just change out the numbers! Love this idea, not a comic book collector myself but can see the appeal!

DIY Creamy Mints

Photo courtesy of Isn't Everything In The Kitchen Trial And Error?

The blog "Isn't Everything In The Kitchen Trial And Error?" offers you this easy DIY project to make your own   Creamy Mints. The author offers comments based on all the questions received from readers so hopefully your first try will be successful! Make them in creamy white or pastels, you choice.  

Serve these mints in a bowl or put them in a tiny bag or container for your guests to take home with them as a wedding or shower favor. These are a little more personal than Jordan Almonds from food store! Enjoy!

Shoes Whose Soles Have Soul!

Photo courtesy of YouTube

As you watch this YouTube video of Rosso Solini Secret Soles, you'll find great ways to turn the bottoms of your shoes on your wedding day into part of your decor! Solini Secret Soles come in red, pink, as well as prints like leopard and polka dots. This product looks like fun for any time, not just your wedding.

While I suspect the solid red is a take off on Christian Louboutain's trademark designs, the other designs are just as much fun and give your shoes a touch of whimsy. So if you're looking for an inexpensive way to turn your 'Payless Shoes' or 'KMart's Best' into a top of the line fashion statement, just grab a box of Secret Soles.

Doilies Turned Lamps

Photo courtesy of Mod Vintage Life

Looking for lighting you can make yourself? Take these pretty doilies and turn them into vintage-look lamps. Doilies aren't just for grandma anymore! Brides are using them for everything from lamps to table runners.

I love the daisies! They'd be so pretty with a summery wedding! Indoors or out, these lamps will light your special day in a special way!

Tall Display Of Succulents For Wedding or Home

Photo courtesy of  Mod Vintage Life

(Primary Source Missing "Page Not Found Message" on link)

Succulents can take your wedding decor from drab to fab. This great display, shown on Mod Vintage Life is made from an old lamp base, re-purposed to give you a tall but stunning base for your display.

Just remove the lamp shade (save it for another re-purpose project, you never know!) and add a lined basket filled with soil. Clever? Yes! Perfect to use to designate a ceremony space or to put behind the head table. I love the trailing lacy look and the pink coloring!

Looking for a different look or color for succulents? If you missed them read "Blue and Purple Succulents For Your Wedding" (source Flowers by Bournay Inspiration) and "Painted Ladies, Glamorizing Succulents."  Just looking for other color combos? Check all my other succulent bouquets and just transpose into your tall lamp 'vase.'  Key to this look? The trailing succulents and some colorful succulents.

If you don't want to have a bouquet that is all succulents add some trailing succlents to your bouquet and a few succulents to pull together your flowers and the pure succlent look above. (And be sure your groom has his own succulent bout!)

I will find a space to do this, if not for a wedding for my house. I think I'm in love! Succulents are great for the DIYer because you can put them together well in advance of your wedding without worry about wilting and fading. I'm off to my garden center to see what I can find!

Fruit Salsa and Chips

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Jay on Pinterest

Having a bridal shower? Or maybe a bridemaid luncheon? Try this fruit salsa with cinnamon chips for dipping. Always a favorite! Fast and easy to make and healthier than a cheese based dip!

Coffee and Candlelight

Source: leschosesdemarie.blogspot.com via Jay on Pinterest

Having a picnic? Want an easy way to light your table without worrying about candles tipping over and wax getting all over your brand new picnic table? Try these 'coffee cup tea lights' that you can easily line up down the center of your table. Use citronella if needed to keep the bugs away, set in coffee beans. (this is an especially good way to use up beans that might be too stale to use for coffee but still have that great coffee scent. Enjoy!